Tray holder



Oct. 21 1924.

1,512,539 w. B. HOLTON TRAY HOLDER Filed Feb. 12 1924 Patented Oct. 21, 1924..

UNITE WESLEY BERN ELL HOLTON, OF SELIVIA, CALIFOBNIA..

TRAY HOLDER.

Application filed February 12, 1924. Serial No. 692,315.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WEsLEY BERNELL HoLroN, citizen of the United States, residing at Selma, in the county of Fresno and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tray Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tray holders for use in the raisin industry, and has particular reference to an improved device for use by grape pickers to hold paper trays into which the grapes are deposited as they are picked.

At the present time both wood and paper trays are made for grape pickers use and these are constructed so as to hold approximately 22 pounds of grapes. The paper trays are usually employed because they are not so hard to handle and cost less than the wooden trays. When a grape picker employs paper trays for the reception of the grapes as they are picked, he begins with a bunch 0r stack of paper trays (2 L trays in a bunch) and places the paper trays on a wooden tray for support. When the top paper tray is full of grapes the grape picker pulls the top tray off and spreads the grapes over the surface of the same after which he resumes the picking operation, depositing the grapes on the next tray.

It is customary for the grape picker to drive nails (one in each corner of the paper trays) at one end through the paper trays and into the wooden tray to keep the paper trays from pulling off of the wooden tray each time the upper paper tray is slid off of the bunch or stack. This takes considerable time, and as an alternative, some of the grape pickers place sand under each paper tray so that the top tray will slide easily. hen the latter is practiced, it occurs the necessity of screening the raisins before they are packed for shipment or storage, there by involving expense of additional time and labor at an undesirable cost.

The present invention, therefore, has for its primary object to provide a tray holding device for grape pickers, by means of which the above objections are eliminated, and whereby the grape picker may handle the paper tray with facility and ease, and without danger of the stack of paper trays be" ing displaced from the wooden supporting tray.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tray holder of the above kind, which embraces the desired qualities of simplicity and durability of construction, as well as efficiency in operation, in maintaining the stack of trays in their proper relation, while permitting the top tray to be readily removed with facility and case when desired.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the acc0mpanying drawings, and claimed.

in the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a tray holder constructed in accordance with the present invention, and

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the present invention includes an elongated base plate embodying a jaw or jaw portions 5 having an integral jaw lever 6, and an upper plate embodying a jaw '7 having an integral jaw lever 8, the base plate being of flat form, and having upwardly extending side ears 9 integral with the intermediate portion thereof, the ears 9 being pivotally connected to and overlapped by similar downwardly extending side ears 10 provided on the intermediate portion of the upper plate. A pin 11 passes through the overlapped ears 9 and 10 and forms the pivotal connection between the plate, while a spring 12 is provided, having a coiled intermediate portion, through which the pin 11 extends, one end of the spring 12 being positioned to bear upon the upper face of the lever 6 and the other end of said spring being engaged with the under surface of the lever 8 so as to swing the upper plate for maintaining the jaw 7 adjacent the jaw 5 of the base plate.

A pointed spur, preferably of straight tapered form, as shown, is suitably fixed to the jaw 5 of the base plate so as to project upwardly from the latter, and the jaw 7 of the upper plate is formed with an opening as indicated at 14 in Figure 1 by dotted lines, through which the spur 13 normally proj ects. The spur 18 may be fitted at its lower end into an opening in the jaw 5 of the base plate and secured in place byv soldering or the like.

As seen clearly in Figure 1, the inner end portion of the aw 7 is directed upwardly so that said jaw is upwardly offset for providing a maximum space between the aws 5 and 7 when they are disposed in substantially parallel relationfor holding a stack of trays upon the spur or pin element 13, at the same time permitting the use of relatively short ears 9 ands-10. Also, for the purpose of permitting suliicient movement of the lever 8 toward the lever 6 to disengage the jaw 7 from the spur 13 and to elevate the jaw 7 a material distance above the upper end of the spur 13,the lever 8 is directed upwardly at an angle to the intermediate portion of the upper plate and to the lever 6.

Suitably secured upon the free end portion of the upper jaw 7 is a thumb piece or button 16 having a central opening as at 17, that is in registry with the opening 14 of the jaw 7. The free end of the jaw 7 is preferably circular in form, as is also the thumb button 16, and said thumb button or thumb piece 16 is preferably formed of heavy material, so as to weight the free end of the upper jaw 7. A second finger or thumb piece 18 is secured against the under side of the lower jaw 5 adjacent its free end and concentric with the spur 18.

In'using the present tray holder, the usual wooden supporting tray has two holes drilled in an end thereof, or rather in an end portion of the bottom of the same, and about one edge inwardly from the end, each hole being about two inches inwardly from the cleats which run along the sides of the usual wooden trays. The jaw lever 8 is then pressed toward the aw lever 6 so as to disengage the jaw 7 from the spur i3 and to permit the spur 13 to beinserted upwardly through one of the holes in the wooden tray, and other similar holding device being employed with its spur 13 inserted upwardly through the other hole in the wooden tray. The stack of superimposed paper trays are then placed upon the points of the spur 13 beneath the weight jaw 16 and then pressure i applied with the thumb and finger upon tl e buttons 16 and 18 so as to press the jaw 7 toward the jaw 5 and onto the spur 13, thereby causing the latter to penetrate the adjacent end portions of the paper trays. li hen the paper trays are forced downwardin; ontothe spur 13, they are effectively held in place between the jaws 5 and 7 thru. the effice of the spring 12 and the fact that the spur 13 extends upwardly through the jaw opening 14 of the upper jaw 7 and through the opening 17 of the thumb piece 16. When this has been accomplished, the trays have been effectively held in place and the paper trays may be pulled off of the spurs 13 one atatiine from the top of the bunch and without the view of disturbing the remaining trays.

From the foregoing description, it is be lieved that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and ap preciated by those skilled in the art.

W iat I claim as new is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a holder for grape pickers trays comprising a base plate embodying a jaw having an integral jaw lever, an upper plate embodying a 'aw having an integral jaw lever, the base plate having upwardly extending side cars intogral with the intermediate portion thereof, the upper plate having downwardly extending side ears on the intermediate portion thereof overlapping andv pivotally connected to the ears of the base plate, comprising a pin passing through the overlapped ears, a spring having a coiled intermediate portion through which said pin extends and having its ends respectively engaging the upper surface of the jaw lever of the base plate and the under surface of the jaw lever of the upper plate whereby the 'aws are normally yieldingly urged towar each other, said jaw of the upper plate having an opening therethrough adjacent its free end, and a spur rigidly secured to the free end portion of the base plate jaw and projecting up- ".yardly from the latter and manually projecting upwardly through the opening inthe jaw of the upper plate, said spur liieing ada )ted to be passed upwardly through a woo on supporting tray and a stack of superimposed paper trays and also to project into the opening of the door of the upper plate whereby the trays are held upon the spur between said jaws, and thumb pieces respectively secured upon the upper surface of the jaw of the upper plate and upon the under surface of the jaw of the base plate, the thumb piece of the base plate jaw being coincident with the spur, and the thumb piece of the upper jaw being concentric with the opening in the latter and having an opening in registry with the opening in said upper aw.

52. As an article of manufacture, a holder for grape pickers trays comprising a base plate embodying a jaw havingun integral jaw lever, an upper plate embodying a jaw having an integral jaw lever, the base p ate having upwardly extending side ears in tegral with the intermediate portion thereof, the upper plate having downwardly extending side ears on the intermediate portion thereof overlapping and pivotally connected to the ears of the base plate, comprising a pin passing through the overlapped ears, a spring having a coiled intermediate portion through which said pin extends and having its ends respectirely engaging the upper surface of the jaw lever of the base plate and the under surface of the jaw lever 0f the upper plate whereby Inn the jaws are normally yieldingly urged toward each other, said jaw of the upper plate having an opening therethrough adjacent its free end, a spur rigidly secured to the free end portion of the base plate jaw and projecting upwardly from the latter and normally projecting upwardly through the opening in the jaw of the upper plate, said spur being adapted to be passed upwardly through a wooden supporting tray and a stack of superimposed paper trays whereby the trays are held upon the spur between said aws, and thumb pieces respectively secured upon the upper surface of the jaw of the upper plate and upon the under surface of the jaw of the base plate, the thumb piece of the base plate jaw being co-incident with the spur, and the thumb piece of the upper aw being concentric with the opening in the latter and having an opening in registry with the opening in said upper jaw, the thumb piece of the upper jaw further embodying a weight for assisting the spring in maintaining the trays upon the spur.

As an article of manufacture, a holder for grape pickers trays comprising a base plate embodying a jaw having an integral jaw lever, an upper plate embodying a jaw having an integral jaw lever, the base plate having upwardly extending side ears integral with the intermediate portion thereof, the upper plate having downwardly extending side ears on the intermediate portion thereof overlapping and pivotally connected to the ears of the base plate, comprising a pin passing through the overlapped ears, a spring having a coiled intermediate portion through which said pin extends and having its ends respectively en gaging the upper surface of the jaw lever of the base plate and the under surface of the jaw lever of the upper plate whereby the jaws are normally yieldingly urgedtoward each other, said jaw of the upper plate having an opening therethrough adjacent its free end, a spur rigidly secured to the free end portion of the base plate jaw and projecting upwardly from the latter and normally projecting upwardly through the opening in the jaw of the upper plate, said spur being adapted to be passed upwardly through a wooden supporting tray and a stack of superimposed paper trays and also to project into the opening of the door of the upper plate whereby the trays are held upon the spur between said jaws, and thumb pieces respectively secured upon the upper surface of the jaw of the upper plate and upon the under surface of the jaw of the base plate, the thumb piece of the base plate jaw being co-incident with the spur, and the thumb piece of the upper jaw being concentric with the opening in the latter and having an opening in registry with the opening in said upper jaw, the thumb piece of the upper jaw further embodying a weight for assisting the spring in maintaining the trays upon the spur, the inner end portion of the upper jaw being directed upwardly from the ears of the upper plate whereby the upper jaw is offset upwardly from the plane of the intermediate portion of said upper plate to sufficiently space the jaws for reception of the wooden and paper trays therebetween when said trays are disposed upon the spur and the jaws are in substantially parallel spaced relation.

l. As an article of manufacture, a tray holder for grape pickers comprising a base plate and an upper plate pivotally connected intermediate their ends, each of said plates embodying a jaw and a jaw lever, a spur rigidly carried by and projecting upwardly from the free end portion of the base jaw, the jaw of the upper plate having an opening through which said spur projects, a spring for normally swinging the plates relative to each other to move the jaws toward each other, and thumb pieces respectively secured to the jaws upon the upper surface of the upper jaw and against the under surface of the base plate jaw, the thumb piece of the upper jaw having a central opening registered with the opening of the upper aw and adapted to permit the passa e of the spur therethrough.

5. l s an article of manufacture, a tray holder for grape pickers comprising a base plate and an upper plate pivotally connected intermediate their ends, each of said plates embodying a jaw and a jaw lever, a spur rigidly carried by and projecting upwardly from the free end portion of the base jaw, the jaw of the upper plate having an opening through which said spur projects, a spring for normally swinging the plates relative to each other to move the jaws toward each other, thumb pieces respectively secured to the jaws upon the upper surface of the upper jaw and against the under surface of the base plate aw, the thumb piece of the upper jaw having a central opening registered with the opening of the upper jaw and adapted to permit the passage of the spur therethrough, said thumb piece of the upper jaw being in the form of a weight.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WESLEY BERNELL HOLTON. 

